2018 Kia Cee’d spied

The next-generation Kia Cee’d has been spied going through its paces in southern Europe.

The underpinnings, and many of its petrol and diesel drivetrain options, for the new Cee’d will be shared with the latest Hyundai i30.

Externally, the third-generation Cee’d will once again feature the company’s signature tiger nose grille. We expect the rest of the car’s body to be unique, with a slightly sportier look than its Hyundai sibling, and design elements inspired by the new Rio hatch and Stinger sports sedan.

A September debut for the new Cee’d, just in time for the Frankfurt motor show, seems to be a good bet.

Australia

The Cee’d three-door counterpart, the painfully named Pro-cee’d, was available in Australia between 2014 and 2015. Sold solely in GT trim, the sporty hatch had a 150kW/265Nm 1.6-litre turbo engine, but with only a six-speed manual on offer, sales were limited.

With the Cee’d produced exclusively in Europe, it seems unlikely the new Cee’d will be offered in Australia.